10 Mythical Creatures We Want to See in AC Odyssey

By Joshua Duckworth 21 August 2018

In Assassin’s Creed Origins, fans of the franchise got to explore Egyptian mythology through the eyes of Bayek, as he faced the likes of Anubis, Sobek, Sekhmet, Apep, and the undead via the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC. Now, Assassin’s Creed fans will get the chance to dig deep into Greek mythology, as they explore it through the eyes of either Alexios or Kassandra in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

Set to release in a few months’ time, this latest entry may likely feature the same in-depth approach to mythology as its predecessor, as footage has already shown Medusa and the Minotaur from Greek mythology. This would suggest more monsters are possible, so with that in mind, here are the 10 mythical beasts we would like to see in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

1. Cyclops

The Cyclops is a staple in Greek mythology, as it is a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye. In fact, in Homer’s Epic The Odyssey, the main character faces off with one of these giants named Polyphemus. Considering the upcoming Assassin’s Creed installment bears a subtitle with the same name as Homer’s Epic, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Alexios or Kassandra fight a Cyclops. Not to mention, it would be a stunning cinematic to see the PC sink the spear of Leonidas, which is essentially a proto-Hidden Blade, into the Cyclops’s eye.

2. Cerberus

One of the most popular Greek myths is the creature known as Cerberus or a three-headed dog with a serpent for a tail that guards the gates of the Underworld for Hades. If the underworld plays a similar role to the Duat in Assassin’s Creed Origins, it would make sense to fight this mythical beast or perhaps stealthily flee. Or if Odyssey features something like the Trial of the Gods DLC, the PC could face down a powerful Hades with Cerberus at his side.

3. Scylla

With the return of naval gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, there is not a more fearsome pair of beasts the protagonist could face off with than Scylla and Charybdis. According to Greek mythology, Scylla was once a water spirit beloved by Poseidon but was turned into a monster by the jealous Amphitrite, and her monstrous depictions varied from a dragon-like land-based creature to a woman with a tentacle for a tail and dogs protruding from her body.

4. Charybdis

Charybdis was a sea monster that created whirlpools, and the two monsters guarded a narrow strait of water that would force sailors to pass near one of the two. Many antiquarians associated this area with the Strait of Messina, and Messina is an identifiable landmass on Odyssey‘s map, which may be much larger than Origin’s. This may suggest an encounter between the two monsters is viable and would create some interesting naval gameplay.

5. Pegasus

Of course, not every beast from Greek lore is going to be a terrifying boss-level monster, and there are few myths as beloved as Pegasus. A child of the Olympian god Posideon, Pegasus is often depicted as a pure white stallion with powerful wings and is credited with helping the Greek hero Bellerophon defeat the monstrous Chimera. Whether it was a simple glimpse, allusion, or a riding sequence, Pegasus appearing in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey would do much to cement the game in Greek mythology.

6. Chimera

Speaking of the Chimera, it too would make a fantastic addition to the game, as the monster is often depicted as a lion with a snake for a tail that also has the head of a goat arising from its back. It is also considered a beast of omen, so its appearance in-game would do the opposite of Pegasus by instilling fear instead of hope in the PC.

7. Centaurs

Another feelgood creature that could appear is the Centaur, a mythical hybrid creature that has the lower torso and legs of a horse and the upper torso of a man. Sometimes, these creatures were depicted as teachers; others, they were depicted as embodiments of untamed nature. While we couldn’t guess how the choice-heavy Assassin’s Creed Odysseywould depict these fantastic beasts, it would nevertheless help push the game’s investment in Greek history and myth.

8. Sirens

Another creature that makes sense in the game due to the return of the naval gameplay is the siren. These creatures, which conversely inspired folklore about mermaids, were often depicted as female figures with the legs of birds, with or without wings, playing a variety of musical instruments, especially harps. They would attempt to draw sailors to their death with their enchanting music or soothing songs, so it would be interesting to see the PC and his/her crew try to avoid the siren’s call.

9. Griffins

An in-game encounter with a Griffin would be interesting, as these creatures were considered the king of all beasts. This was because the Griffin had the body of a lion, but the head, wings, and talons of an eagle, with each creature that composed the Griffin being considered the king of its domain. Since they were often depicted as guardians of gold, it would be interesting to see the creature guarding a piece of Eden, which reportedly will have a major role in the game.

10. Manticore

Although the manticore has its roots in Persian mythology, this hybrid creature was well-known to the Greeks as a beast with the body of a lion, head of a human, and a tail bearing quills or bearing similarities to a scorpion’s tail. This unique beast is often associated with an Egyptian sphinx, so it nicely connects the Persian backstory of the spear of Leonidas to both Origins and Odyssey.

The rich Greek mythology present in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey provides a number of beasts to choose from, but these are the ten we believe could add to the experience of the game, even though it managed to have a powerful presence at E3 2018. Of course, there were other potential contenders such as satyrs, harpies, and the hydra. Tell us then, Ranters, what aspects of Greek mythology would you like to see play a prominent role in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey?

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is scheduled to release on October 5, 2018, for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.